Javaris Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge Monday, explaining he had a pistol because he feared teammate Gilbert Arenas would shoot him or blow up his car after the two argued over a card game.

By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Gilbert Arenas' future with the Washington Wizards is unclear after NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended the guard without pay Wednesday for the season.

Stern also suspended Washington guard Javaris Crittenton for the season, stemming from a Dec. 21 incident when both players brought guns into the Wizards' arena. That is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the players association.

"If there's any doubt of any of our players about it in the future, we will be dealing with this in an even more severe way," Stern said.

Arenas will not challenge the suspension; Crittenton had not decided.

Arenas, out most of the last two seasons with knee problems, is in the second of a six-year, $111 million deal.

The Wizards could try to void his contract, buy it out or trade him. "It's going to be a combination of many things to see which direction we go," club president Ernie Grunfeld said. "We are exploring all of our options."

The incident bruised the NBA's and the Wizards' images. Late Washington owner Abe Pollin changed the team's nickname from Bullets in 1997 " to express his abhorrence of gun violence in our community," the team said in a statement.

The commissioner acted after both players pleaded guilty to gun possessions charges — a felony for Arenas, a misdemeanor for Crittenton. He met with both players this week, Crittenton on Tuesday and Arenas on Wednesday.

Stern acknowledged both players "expressed remorse" and he accepts "fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret," he said in a statement. Yet, "There is no justification for their conduct."

On NBA TV, Stern said Arenas' and Crittenton's remorse was a factor in the punishment.

"I would've done more if I didn't believe their contrition and their sincerity," he said.

In a statement, the Wizards said they "understand and fully support" the NBA's decision.

"Their poor judgment has also violated the trust of our fans and stands in contrast to everything Abe Pollin stood for throughout his life. … We hope that this negative situation can produce something positive by serving as a reminder that gun violence is a serious issue," the Wizards said. "We look forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind us and once again focusing our full attention on playing exciting basketball in front of our great fans at Verizon Center."

Arenas and Crittenton argued over a card game on a flight from Phoenix to the D.C. area on Dec. 19 and into Dec. 20. According to court records, both players threatened on the plane to shoot each other.

On Dec. 21, Arenas placed four guns on Crittenton's locker room chair with the words "Pick 1" written on a piece of paper on top of the guns, according to court records.

Crittenton, who said he feared for his safety, said he had his own weapon and took a handgun out of his backpack.

Stern also made clear the suspension had nothing to do with legal gun ownership and possession and was "about the possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated."

"This is not a subject on which we find ourselves in disagreement," Stern said. "And we've already begun those discussions. Because this is about the health and safety of our players and all players as well as our overall image of our players, and we're going to make, I would guess, an even stronger statement on this subject than is being made by this penalty being announced today."

It will be costly to both players, especially Arenas. The ninth-year player was expected to make $16 million this season. He will forfeit roughly $9.8 million.

Crittenton, who has not played this season because of a left foot injury, was scheduled to make $1.47 million this season.

Before Arenas and Crittenton rejoin the league, they should rehabilitate their images, crisis management expert Gene Grabowski said.

Arenas "needs to take a page from Michael Vick's book and find himself someone who can serve as a senior mentor … much as Tony Dungy," Grabowski said of the NFL player's return from animal abuse charges.

"Arenas has to do those symbolic things, as well. And he has to show remorse."

***

Arenas timeline:

July 13, 2008

Signed six-year, $111 million deal with the Washington
Wizards.

March 3, 2009

Played his first game since the end of the 2008 season
after recovering from a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee and had
15 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Detroit Pistons.

Oct. 27

Had 29 points and nine assists in the Wizards’ season-opening
102-91 victory vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

Dec. 24

The Wizards confirm that Arenas stored unloaded guns in
a locked compartment in his locker at Verizon Center and turned them over
to team security.

Dec. 30

D.C. police release a statement saying they are investigating,
with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, “an allegation
that weapons were located in a locker room at the Verizon Center.”

Jan. 1, 2010

The Washington Post reported Arenas took the guns out
of the locked compartment and placed them on teammate Javaris Crittenton’s
locker room chair. The NBA said it is monitoring the situation closely.

Jan. 4

Arenas met with federal prosecutors and D.C. police detectives.
Arenas said he “took the unloaded guns out in a misguided effort to play
a joke on a teammate. I never threatened or assaulted anyone with the
guns and never pointed them at anyone. Joke or not, I now recognize that
what I did was a mistake and was wrong.”

Jan. 5

During warmups before Washington’s game vs. the Philadelphia
76ers, Arenas used his hands to form pistols and mock shoot his teammates.

Jan. 6

The NBA suspended Arenas indefinitely and without pay.

Jan. 27

The NBA suspended Arenas and Crittenton for the rest of the
season without pay.

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